Climate Change Cooperation in Latin American Regionalism

This chapter analyses the norms, agendas, and initiatives implemented by regional organizations in Latin America regarding climate change, and focuses on the Southern Cone Market (MERCOSUR), the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), the Forum for the Progress and Integration of South America (PROSUR), and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). Drawing on the secondary literature and official documents and the concepts of path dependence and unintended consequences from historical institutionalism, the chapter explores the role that these regional organizations have played so far in addressing climate change, as well as the key actors promoting and hindering environmental and climate change commitments. The conclusions advance recommendations based on the premise that climate change should be a key area in a new cycle of regionalism following the period of paralysis and disintegration that culminated at the end of the decade of 2010s.